HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - MGG - 12-12-2012D ORIGINALMILTON GROWS GREEN COMMITTEE
DECEMBER 12, 2012 MINUTES [ApPROVED]
Date: December 12, 2012, 6:30 -8:30 pm
Place: Executive Conference Room, Milton City Hall, 13000 Deerfield Parkway, Milton, GA 30004
Attendees: Jack Lindon, Francia Lindon, Kathy Johnson, Teresa Stickels, Julie Pinckney, Cindy
Eade and Lynna Lee.
I. Agenda: It was posted on the City's web site.
II. Approval of Minutes: November 14, 2012 were approved. Cindy commented that in listening
to the audio of the meeting, there were a lot of people talking over each other and having multi
person conversations. This makes it hard to follow who's saying what and is disrespectful.
III. Old Business & Updates:
• ARC Green Communities Certification -Cindy -We've been working on this for about 3
years. We're getting the bronze award but are not that far from getting the silver. Milton
would need about 50 points more. Some of the efforts towards this are already in the works.
Cannot see this happening this May but maybe a year from May. For example, there was a
discussion about including the Joe Lamp'l talk and our efforts to get wildlife habitat
certification. We couldn't get points any points for this at this time because we haven't
completed the process. The award is not something Milton can rest on it laurels after
achieving but it requires continuing efforts. Jack noted Milton was the only community
receiving the award in this round with a master forest plan.
Fulton Gov. has a TV show, channel 22 on Comcast, where it wants to showcase Milton's
environmental initiatives for one of the segment of the show. There have also been a
number of articles about MGG's recent efforts in local papers recently.
• Environmental Education Green Schools -Kathy and Cindy have been working on the
school grant program. The deadline is January 18 th and the limit is $250. Kathy has sent out an
announcement and applications to the schools. Lenna asked about applying for her school to
get recycle bins. Rebecca Smith, Environmental Club at Cambridge HS has also applied for
recycle bins. Jack also suggested schools that might be interested in Adopt-A-Stream could
get the test kits which cost around $200. Torn Sewell who leads the A-A-S at Hopewell MS
was willing to lend their kits. But the supplies will need to be replenished.
• Adopt-A-Road -Julie reported that 29 roads have been adopted out of 41 available. She
asked is anyone had heard back from Birmingham United Methodist Church. The Interact
Club, Milton HS, sponsored by the Alpharetta Rotary is a new addition on Providence Rd.
• National Wildlife Federation Wildlife Habitat Certification -Francia reported getting an
update of residential certifications from NWF and there was no change over the last month
in the number reported. This was disappointing because we made a number of efforts at
local events. We're hoping that it just due to the time of the year and the holidays. We still
need about 60 residents to certify their yards. Cindy recommended getting a neighborhood
competition going. Donna Liberatore has been working with Scottsdale Farms and they
have everything in place but still haven't applied. We should be getting something from
Mill Springs E.s. Lynna was working with them. Cindy suggested getting them involved
with the Evergreen Schools Program so they can get into the grant program. Birmingham
Falls doesn't have a permanent water source and the school is concerned about maintenance
issues. Their retention pond would qualify as the required wildlife water source.
Milton Grows Green Committee Meeting Minutes December 12, 2012 [ApPROVED]
ALL MILTON GROWS GREEN DOCUMENTS ARE PRINTED ON RECYCLED PAPER WI1H AT LEAST 35% POST -CONSUMER CONTENT.
• Solid Waste Ordinance Changes -Cindy reported that the City had made some changes
but nothing really big. Wording was changed to allow the infrastructure maintenance dues
that are collected from haulers now can be used for hazardous waste collection events.
Haulers now have to report tonnage and pay annual fees by Feb. 15th and when completed,
they will get a decal for their trucks so that code enforcement can be looking for those who a
have legitimate right to operate in Milton. Fees are based on commercial and residential
collection.
• Bring One for the Chipper -Our Flyers are out. Locations are Milton HS at the
Freemanville Rd. entrance and Scottsdale Farms. HomeDepot is still a location but
Alpharetta doesn't want to share the site with us as they did last year. The Rotary Club has
come through with 500 Redbud seedlings. The planting instructions have to be clear the
seedlings need to be planted quickly or kept moist in a pot. We need to make some signs or
can use old ones and have date and time pasted over. Cindy has to find out what
department has a budget for signs. YMSL has volunteered and the Rotary will do Scottsdale.
• Household Hazardous Waste Collection -Jack has talked with EQ a professional
company, about possible dates for an event. We are still looking for a location and are trying
to connect with Virizon for location and perhaps a joint electronics collection event but
hasn't identified contact person. He's thinking about holding it in March. Also considering
HomeDepot, but Corporate HQ has to sign on to event. Lynna recommended Cambridge
H.S. because it has a huge open parking lot. It can then be advertised through the schools.
This has to be limited to Milton residents and they will have to preregister. We have to take
the handling of the materials seriously but a professional company will be doing this. We
have to decide how to deal with people who aren't registered or aren't residents. Disposal of
latex paint by an alternative company will cost around $2.00/ can.
IV. New Business:
• Earth Day, April 20,2013,11:00 am -3:00 pm -Kathy, Teresa, Angela and Jack have walked
around Friendship Park and everybody is on board with having it there but we won't be
able to accommodate a crowd bigger then we had last year. There was a discussion of a
possible layout of booths and entertainment. We can't have trucks going over the new
concrete and grass so the only activity that needs to be trucked in would be limited to the
rock-climbing wall. Angela is favoring food vendors selling from tents rather then trucks.
Having this decision made sets us on our initial planning course. Walmart has sent the city
two $1,000 checks that need to be identified. Jack will speak with his contact there since he
made a request for funding for Earth Day. We also make assignments for committees. Mark
Joseph, a DJ with equipment, will be asked to do entertainment. This will cost us around
$600. We can work with him to include our groups or presentations. Lenna could coordinate
some school projects or presentations -give them booth or table space. Chattahoochee
Nature Center Raptors could come and do a presentation this year -want to have a variety
of things not all singing. Contacts need to be made early.
• Shredding Event -Cindy said that a number of people have asked if Milton is going to hold
one. We discussed whether or not this was a "safety" issue for sensitive documents.
• Joe Lamp'l to Give a Gardening Talk -Date, January 24, 2013. Jerry Hightower has been
lined up for March. These are in conjunction with the NWF effort.
t8:30 PM L;;-.A~-'~4'ft£4<3<~M
Jon B. McPhail, Co-chair Francia Lindon, eeretary
Milton Grows Green Committee Meeting Minutes December 12, 2012 [ApPROVED] 2